LAST WORD
Connections Forged in Love
We continue showing up for each other over the years.
by Kevin Graham β10, β12G, Ph.D.
[clockwise from top left] Kevin Graham β10, β12G; Shawanda Green β09; Janelle Hill β08; Gregory Hyde β07; Cassandra Thompson β07, β11G; and Leon Hill β08 at the Linehan Chapel wedding of Caroline and Isaiah Tolbert β07, β16G.
Kevin Graham β10, β12G officiating at the wedding of Crystal Austin and Gregory Hyde β07.
November 12, 2021, is a significant date for a cadre of Nazareth College alums, especially Gregory Hyde β07. It was his wedding day, and although his spouse Crystal Austin did not attend Nazareth College, members of classes 2007 through 2011 gathered to celebrate their love. Despite knowing me during my less mature years at Naz, Greg had somehow convinced Crystal that it was a good idea to have me officiate their nuptials β fear not, I rose to the occasion. This sort of trust and support is emblematic of the deep connections fostered in the dorm rooms, classrooms, and dining halls of Nazareth College. Over the years, we made it a healthy habit to show up for each other, and love has consistently been a thread that pulled the group together. For example, friends from classes 2006 through 2012 gathered when Isaiah Tolbert β07, β16G got married to his wife Caroline Tolbert, as well as when Leon Hill β08 and Janelle Hill β08 had sealed their love.
Leon Hill β08; Gregory Hyde β07; Isaiah Tobert β07, β16G; and Kevin Graham β10, β12G; dining out.
[clockwise from top left] Kevin Graham β10, β12G; Chanel Wright β08; Gregory Hyde β07; Paul Brown β08; Chiqueeta Lea β08, β11G; Janelle Hill β08; and Leon Hill β08 at the Hillsβ baby shower.
Lest I get carried away with the romantic conception of the term love, I would offer key moments in my own life where Naz grads were integral to my personal and professional journey. Namely, when I was fumbling through my Ph.D. program and needed encouragement and someone to proofread nearly four hundred pages of a dissertation. Greg convinced Crystal that it would be nice to proofread the document (be wary of Greg's persuasive skill sets; he is a lawyer).
Likewise, in the throes of preparing to give my TEDx talk, Ricky Kotak β11 and Stephanie Santos β13 sat through unpaid hours of me fine-tuning the talk, and as always, they offered tea (Rick's British) and much needed support. Moreover, Isaiah Tolbert continues to be one of my key go-to's for counsel on all things that require tact and emotional intelligence; we had a running bet that he would cry during his Best Man speech at Greg's wedding. Out of love and respect, I will not share the outcome of the bet.
Kevin Graham β10, β12G; Bianca DeJesus β11; Gregory Hyde β07; Emelyn Santos β11; and Isaiah Tolbert β07, β16G at a Halloween gathering.
At the Naz gym, seated front row: Kevin Graham β10, β12G; Judith Sully β11. middle row: Bianca DeJesus β11, Emelyn Santos β11, Yajaira Rosa β13. back row: Joshua MΓ©ndez Aracena β11, James Jaramillo β13, β16G.
Judith Sully β11, since high school, has been my guru on taking the moral high road, of course with style and grace (she is a fashion icon). Emelyn Santos β11 is my encourager to embrace all aspects of life and she is always there to offer tough love (she hails from the Bronx).
If I continue to go down memory lane, I can produce a dissertation on the transformative and inspirational moments that I have had with my Naz family, like Leon Hill being the first Black man I met with a library in his dorm room, Mohammed Ahamed β10, β16G's astuteness and wisdom, or Cassandra Thompson β07, β11G's financial acuity.
Interestingly, these friends represent the very few Black and Brown students in their respective graduating class. Many of us found each other by seeking the comfort of familiarity, culture, race β Why Are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria β or any indicator of sameness. Nonetheless, what has kept us together over the years is deep-seated appreciation, continued support, friendship, and above all, love.Β As the African saying goes, βsticks in a bundle are unbreakable.β
Kevin Graham starts a new role mid-June 2022 as site director of Break Through Technology, Samueli School of Engineering, at University of California, Los Angeles.